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This Polenta recipe is an all-time favorite – because it’s easy! Just whisk away the polenta, toss the mushrooms in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a little garlic and let them roast away into this creamy polenta dish!
Best Polenta Recipe
I have a hard time choosing a favorite meal. I have too many favorites and it depends on my mood. Creamy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms is probably in my top 10 favorite meals. I am always in the mood for rich and creamy polenta. I could eat an entire pan if no one was watching me. I love the stuff!
The creamy polenta is good by itself, but the roasted mushrooms make this polenta recipe extra special. They are the “icing on the cake.” And it’s always a good idea to add more veggies into your diet, right?
How to Make Polenta
First of all, what is polenta? Polenta is made from coarsely ground cornmeal and is very popular in Italy. Polenta is similar to grits, but I think polenta is even better than the popular Southern dish. It can be served creamy, fried, baked, chilled and cut into squares. I really love creamy polenta, it is a special treat.
This creamy polenta is easy to make, you are going to love it!
- I start with the mushrooms. I toss the mushrooms in olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and a little garlic and let them roast away in the oven.
- I cook the polenta on the stove top. You can find polenta or course cornmeal at almost any grocery store. I usually have luck in the bulk bin section. They do sell instant polenta and you can use that for this recipe, just follow the instructions on the box.
- The hardest part is whisking the polenta, but a little arm workout won’t hurt you. And it really isn’t hard. You just have to whisk it every few minutes, so don’t go far. (Turn on some tunes and sing away while your mushrooms are roasting and your polenta is cooking. I won’t tell anyone if you use your whisk as a microphone:)
- This polenta is super creamy thanks to the milk, butter, and Parmesan cheese. Oh yes, it is rich and SO worth every bite.
To serve, divide the creamy polenta into bowls and top with the roasted mushrooms. Try to savor every bite, but I won’t judge if you frantically shove spoonfuls into your mouth. This polenta recipe is a winner! An all-time favorite for sure!
If you like this polenta recipe, you might also like:
- Creamy Basil Polenta with Roasted Tomatoes
- Polenta Rounds with Fried Eggs and Avocado Bean Salsa
- Baked Polenta Pie
- Grilled Polenta Rounds with Black Bean and Avocado Salsa
- Grilled Polenta Cakes
Vegetarian
Creamy Polenta with Roasted Mushrooms
Creamy polenta with roasted mushrooms-an easy and comforting meal.
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 40 minutes mins
Ingredients
For the Roasted Mushrooms:
- 1 lb. Baby Bella mushrooms stems removed and cut in half
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup chopped flat leaf Italian parsley
For the Creamy Polenta:
- 2 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 3/4 cup stoneground polenta not instant
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Extra Parmesan cheese for serving optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place mushrooms in a medium bowl and drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add in garlic and toss. Season with salt and pepper. Spread mushrooms evenly onto a large greased baking sheet. Roast for 15-20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender, stirring once. Remove from the oven and stir in parsley.
While the mushrooms are roasting, make the polenta. In a medium saucepan, combine milk, water, and salt over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer. When it simmers, slowly pour in the polenta and whisk to combine. Reduce heat to low and partially cover the pan with a lid and cook, whisking vigorously every 5 minutes. Make sure you scrape the sides of the pan. Cook until liquid is absorbed and polenta is creamy, about 30 minutes total. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and Parmesan cheese.
Divide the polenta into four bowls. Top with roasted mushrooms and garnish with Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve immediately.
Have you tried this recipe?
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FAQs
The trick is to presoak the polenta in its liquid for several hours before cooking it. This step helps fully hydrate the cornmeal before you even start cooking it, which in turn drastically cuts down on the cooking time.
Why is my polenta not creamy? ›
Cook the Polenta Longer
I always thought my polenta looked done after 15 or 20 minutes of cooking, but just because it's thickened doesn't mean the cornmeal has cooked through. Keep on cooking until it tastes creamy, corny, and a little bit sweet. That extra time makes all the difference.
What is creamy polenta made of? ›
In Italy it is often made with various ingredients, including cornmeal, ground rice, buckwheat, and chestnut flour. Here in North America, it is generally made exclusively with coarsely ground cornmeal. Think of polenta as an Italian version of grits! But made with yellow corn instead of the white corn of grits.
How to keep polenta creamy? ›
The top of the polenta might seem a bit hardened when you uncover it, but never fear. Adding the fat (in this case, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and unsalted butter) and a little vigorous whisking will produce the creamy results you expect.
Is polenta better with milk or water? ›
In Italian cooking, polenta is made with water. Some more Americanized recipes will prompt you to start with milk or stock, but (in my opinion) they are wrong. Hydrating your polenta with water will allow the flavor of the corn to shine, and it will allow each individual grain to absorb salt more readily.
Do you have to stir polenta constantly? ›
(Which is why some recipes for polenta dictate that the constant stirring is truly necessary only at the beginning and then intermittently.) Placing the pot in an oven surrounds it with a uniform, unvarying temperature. When the temperature is constant, the stirring need not be.
Should polenta be cooked covered or uncovered? ›
Cover the pot and let the polenta cook while you go about making the rest of dinner. Every 10 minutes or so, uncover the pot and give it a good stir to make sure it's cooking evenly and the sides aren't drying out. Thirty to forty minutes later, your polenta is ready for the table.
How to make polenta thicker? ›
Pour the cornmeal into the water gradually – NOT all at once – and whisk constantly as you do it. The constant whisking will evenly disperse the cornmeal grounds in the water, so they won't have a chance to clump together. It'll thicken as it sits.
How do you make Martha Stewart polenta? ›
In a large, deep saucepan, bring 5 cups of water to a boil. While whisking constantly, add polenta in a slow, steady stream. Reduce heat to medium, cook until thickened, stirring occasionally with a wooden spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove pan from heat and stir in cheese, heavy cream, and butter.
Are grits and polenta the same? ›
Yes, both grits and polenta are made from ground corn, but the main difference here is what type of corn. Polenta, as you can probably guess from the color, is made from yellow corn, while grits are normally made from white corn (or hominy).
In Italy, you'll find polenta made from yellow cornmeal or white cornmeal, though yellow is more common. The best polenta is made from stone ground corn, which comes in a coarse, medium, or fine grind. Cornmeal labeled polenta is usually a coarse-grind, but you can make the dish with a medium or fine-grind.
How do you make polenta taste better? ›
Fortify your base. Polenta is usually made with water or milk, which results in a more neutral flavor. Next time you make it, try using a liquid with a little more personality: stock, either vegetable or otherwise, and coconut milk will both add depth to the final dish.
How much does 1 cup of polenta make? ›
The typical ratio for cooking polenta is 1 cup cornmeal to 4 cups of liquid. One cup of cornmeal will produce about 3 cups of polenta. By itself, one cup of polenta contains about 145 calories, 1 gram of fat, 3 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber and no cholesterol.
How to make polenta more flavorful? ›
Cooked veggies are the perfect way to add hearty texture, richness, and flavor to creamy polenta. Try pairing it with roasted broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes, butternut squash, or cauliflower, with grilled mixed vegetables or zucchini, or with sautéed mushrooms.
How to stop polenta from going lumpy? ›
Many recipes call for bringing water and/or milk to a boil and then slowly adding your coarse cornmeal to it, whisking constantly all the while to prevent lumps from forming.
Why does my polenta fall apart? ›
It's recommended that you oil the grill and brush some fresh oil on both sides of the polenta squares; this will ensure gorgeous grill marks and the polenta remain intact.
